Final answer:
Correct answer is A) .The first commercially successful electronic computer for the home market was the Apple II, launched by Apple Computer in 1977. The microchip invention drastically reduced the size and cost of computers, enabling widespread home use and business adoption. Made possible by advances in technology and microprocessor development, the Apple II was foundational in popularizing personal computers in homes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first commercially successful electronic computer for the home market was the Apple II. Launched by Apple Computer in 1977, the Apple II established Apple as a serious player in the burgeoning personal computer market. The development of microprocessors, such as those made by Intel, in the early 1970s allowed the creation of personal computers that were both powerful and affordable for hobbyists and, eventually, the broader consumer market. Before the Apple II's success, earlier computers like the Altair 8800, which used Intel's microprocessor, were popular among computer hobbyists but not as commercially successful for the average home user. Following the Apple II, other computers like the Commodore 64 and Sinclair ZX Spectrum also became popular, but the Apple II is credited with being the first real commercial success.
Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and his partners, Apple Computer quickly realized that computers could reach a market beyond hobbyists. The microchip invention significantly reduced the size and cost of computers, making them accessible to consumers and businesses alike. The Apple II's ease of use and expanding capabilities underpinned by Moore's Law, which described the rapid evolution of computing power, positioned it well for widespread adoption in homes. The Atari 2600, while a highly successful home video game console introduced in 1977, was not a personal computer and therefore didn't compete directly with the likes of the Apple II or Commodore 64 in the home computer market.